Description:Start from the corners, one attacker with the puck and another come towards him below the goal line. 2 defenders are in front and must cover them. Keep track of goals vs the number of attempts. Play for 5-10 seconds.

Description:Play a full ice game under the coaches control. If the coach blows the whistle stop. Review team play like the forecheck,backcheck, face offs, penalty kill, power play, even strength, etc..

This has always been a favorite - especially because it converts so easily into the 'Down Low PP' (with a good passer setting up from behind the net) I think that Lemaire played a version of this but with two F's down near the blue. The thought must have been that their D needs to honor both down low F's and created an automatic 2 on 1 up top. With gunners like Souray and smoothies like Koivu and Naslund it made sense. Joey Mullen runs this PP for the Flyers and I try to watch what the forwards do who are away from the puck and wish I knew more about that phase. As for personal taste I like a heady D-Man up top as opposed to a pure gunner.... the puck has to get through and chances of that may be better with a good vision D Man instead of a hard, big wind up shooter, right?

Watching the video a few times lets you see just how aggressive those PK players are. Do they pressure like that in a real game? If so, I am really impressed. Anyway, I'm all for pressure on the puck but it looks like you could sometimes sacrifice the PK 'shape' and leave dangerous players open by gambling like that on so many 'reads'. We do a little variation on this drill to make it a simultaneous PP vs PK. If the short handed team skates the puck out with control ( not clears or icings ) one guy will leave the extras and join them in the play - while the last man out of the zone from the PP team comes off. Now the roles are reversed and we are still running PP vs PK. Tom, what do you mean when saying that the PK pressure man skates 'through the net'?

Key Points:Create challenging tasks that get progressively more difficult. I taught about 25, 000 PE classes from grade 1 to college in my career and this was the most popular activity. We did it as a role playing game and half were guards and the other have trying to escape from a prisoner of war camp. Everyone had to be silent and if the prisoner failed the guard said bang and they had to go back. It made it more fun to have the story attached but in a hockey practice you wouldnâ€™t have to do this. It was such a popular activity that at noon intramural time there would be kidâ€™s from grade 1 to grade 9 playing at the same time.

I have made up a sample of the things that could be done. Coaches can invent their own.

Description:1. Have the players line up and do various skill tasks.

2. If they are successful they go to the next station. If they fail they have to go back to the start.

3. Have two teams that get between 5-10 minutes to go through while the other team judges each station. Compete to see which team has the most players finish the circuit.

4. Another alternative is to have coaches be the judges and all the players do it.

This would definitely be a fun practice at any level, college included. It has a carnival sort of an atmosphere to it and would be a fresh change as the season wears on. I was going to have a night of curling instead of our typical practice, but I think this is a better idea. Throw in some elements of competition (perhaps small teams with point values) and some pizza for the winners and it is a practice to look forward to. Nice concept, Tom. Very nice.

Introduction to Hockey - Twenty Practices for Non-Skaters to Early Years

These are pdf's with practice plans for the first year of hockey which is mostly learning to skate and move on the ice and then once they learn to skate they need the beginning physical and game understanding skills.

Videos demonstrations for the non-skater exercises and games can be found at:

After the players have completed the first three levels they should have the skating, shooting, puck handling, passing skills and the good habits and game understanding to move to the next level of practices.

These practices will teach a solid foundation of skills, good habits and game understanding.

Key Points:Closest player must pressure the puck in straight lines from the net out. Skate back when the puck is passed. Stick on the ice in passing lanes and stick on the puck when checking. Do not get tied up. Block shots.

Description:1. A powerplay and a penalty killing unit at each end of the ice.2. The coach passes in a puck from the line or from a face off dot.3. Controlled scrimmage where everyone stops on a whistle. 4. If the puck is frozen, a goal or it is cleared put in a new puck.5. After about 45 seconds do the same thing from the other end while the pp and pk units switch at the original end.

This is another example of a controlled scrimmage at each end. Coaches can teach specialty team play in the offensive or defensive end as well as even strength tactics such as defensive zone coverage, cycling, forechecks, etc.--------------------------------------------------------------

T2-4 D400 Specialty Team Practice - Pro

Key Points:Closest player must pressure the puck in straight lines from the net out. Skate back when the puck is passed. Stick on the ice in the passing lane. Communicate.Description:

1. A power play and a penalty killing unit at each end of the ice.2. The coach passes in a puck from the line or from a face off dot.3. Controlled scrimmage where everyone stops on a whistle. 4. If the puck is frozen, a goal or it is cleared put in a new puck.5. After about 45 seconds do the same thing from the other end while the pp and pk units switch at the original end.

What I am doing now is going through each video section and writing a description and doing a diagram so I will link the video to the diagram. This section is on practicing team play and how a coach can teach it. In this practice the pro teams have some junior players practicing with them and they are all learning the specialty teams. Some teams have players that never practice specialty teams. Last summer when someone hacked the site and destroyed everything I uploaded the old and new videos and now I am catching up with descriptions. I leave in two days to do a hockey camp in the mountains and then the next week in the Czech Republic and probably won't do any unless I am in a hotel room with high speed in Europe. Who knows.

T2-4 D100 Power Play and Penalty Kill Scrimmage - Pro

Key Points:Practice the full ice power play vs penalty killers. Controlled scrimmage style with coaches shooting the puck in and stopping the play. Short passes, get the puck behind the defense, and quick feet are the keys.

Description:1. Divide the team into two groups and everyone takes a turn at the power play and penalty kill.2. In this video the breakout is 3 coming up the ice with one in each lane and a stretch man in at the red line and far blue lines.

Key Points:Practice focusing on the breakout, zone entry and Power Play.

Description:1. Power play unit breaks out. This breakout has a double swing low, a forward mirroring the flow skating across the blue line and a stretch man skating across the other blue line.2. Coaches monitor the play and put in another puck if the play ends too quickly.3. Start in an overload and move into a 1-3-1 diamond.4. Quick puck movement with the middle man supporting all 4 around the diamond.5. Coaches talk with the players when they come back to the line-up.

On the double swing Power Play break out, the PK looks like they are pretty much conceding a clean break out and have 3 lined up deep in the N-Zone to cover all 3 lanes of attack. F1 of the PK unit looks like he is just trying to force the PP wide and still occupy a good spot in the big ice. Should the PP unit do something to cause an overload - perhaps curling the strong side Stretch Man back into the flow and the Weak Side guy coming more to the mid lane?For your sake, I hope you enjoy Jasper and the Czechs. For my sake, I hope you have a good internet connection

Pops you are correct that it is a passive forecheck. On the wider rink it is easier to make the stretch pass because the seams are bigger. They were attempting to plug up the neutral zone and force dump in's or turnovers. With the way teams like Detroit outnumber the attacking team 4-2 in the cornerafter dump ins, it can be an effective style. We didn't use that low overload but maybe they have incorporated it now. It falls into their philosophy of pressure all over the ice.

I am leaving in about 3 hours for Jasper. We are in a campsite with no internet. There is a cyber cafe near the rink where I check my emails. Sounds like I am doing the one or two sessions a day with one larger group, One session a day with a group of about ten bantam-midget aged players and then a classroom and an ice session with the coaches each day; plus a 30 min. private session with two of the players from the older group who are going away to play AAA hockey.

I wish my son could have come to help but he has a 3 week job at the Flames hockey school that is run by the Okanagan Hockey School and it also starts on Monday.

I am in Jasper now. Lake Louise to Jasper has to be one of the most beautiful drive anywhere in the world. You are right in the moutains and pass many glaciers. A herd of goats ran down the mountain and across the road right in front of me.

My daughter has her two kid's with her and Aidan is skating at the camp. Last year he walked on the ice at the start of the camp and ended up skating very well by the camps end and had a really good season. There are 35 kid's on the ice and they get 3 ice times and a dryland each day. 2 skating one hockey then 2 hockey one skating.

I do a 75 min. session with local coaches on the ice, then a small lesson then an hour classroom with the coaches for 3 days.

It would be a great place for a team. About 25 can stay in the two dorms below the rec centre, the food is terrific. It is the the middle of the Rocky Mountains.

Description:Players skate around the ice and practice stickhandling moves all around the body, in the feet and try to separate the movement of the upper and lower body.This was filmed at a camp in Jihlava, Czech Republic.

Here's one transition game for half ice to teach transition from defense to offense in DZ:

1) O1 starts with breakout from the goalie and passes give-and-go with the coach (see 1-1 6a-1)2) D1 start when O1 receives the pass from goalie and pivots to close the center ice3) O1 plays 1-1 with D1 below the ringette line and/or starts back-checking4) D1 tries to win the puck and to give breakout pass to O2 above ringette line (see 1-1 6a-2)- after save or goal, goalie has to pass to the D1 to start a breakout to O2

Targets/Keypoints:1) O1 target is to score a goal AND back-check D12) D1 target is to win the 1-1 AND to give breakout pass to O23) D1 to close the gap as soon as possible4) O2 has to read-and-react and time his movement to support D1

Key Points:Pass to low man on transition and goals must oringinate from the point. Tips, screens shots, one timers. All players must move when they get the puck.

Description:1. Play from 1-1 to 3-3.2. When defenders regain the puck they must pass below the goal line.3. Low player may pass to anyone.4. Goals must come from point plays like shots or passes.5. All players must either one touch pass or shoot or else move when they get the puck. i.e. no standing for 2" then passing.

Key points:- O1 and O2 to score AND back-check( player /w puck; threat to score, shoot, player /wo puck; drive to the net, rebound)- D1 to win the puck and give breakout pass (quickly to open ice and pass)

Description:1. goalie start by passing to O12. O1 skates to center and passes to O23. D1 start at the same time as O1, pivots and closes the gap4. O1 and O2 play 2-1 against D15. D1 tries to win the puck and give a breakout pass to O3 or O4

- after save or goal, the goalie passes to D1 who continues breakout to O3 or O4- after 20s coach whistles and next O's starts the drill again

DT - Half ice 1-1 G with Two Goals to Teach Transition from Defense to Offense in DZ - Koutsi97

Key Points:- D1 to breakout with the puck to the middle of the ice by skating- O1 to start the back-check

Description:1. D1 starts by dumping the puck behind the net (goalie to stop)2. D1 skates to the puck and drive skates to middle ice3. O1 reads the breakout and times himself for a breakout pass from the D14. D1 follows the pass, pivots, closes the gap and plays 1-1 with O15. if D1 wins the puck, he tries to skates to NZ through the faceoffs dots (a goal)- after save goalie passes to D1, after goal D2 start the drill again, coach stops the drill after 20s - coach can put two cones to the faceoffs dots as a goal if needed

Key Points:The original attacker backcheck and tie up the attacker stick if there is a shot.Great game to work on speed in the attack and good defensive habits.

Description:D100 Full Ice x 2 (In this practice there are 2 games happening at the same time with 4 goalies and 2 groups. It is a Czech U20 practice)

1. Start by attacking 1-1.2. New player give passive support above circles. 3. On breakout pass to supporting player while original attacker backcheck.4.Supporting player can take away the puck if it comes above the circles.5. Backcheck hard and tie up the stick on rebounds.7. Battle for loose pucks.8. Backchecker make sure there is no second shot and goalie clear the rebound.

This is a great way to practice back pressure quick ups to the forward, taking sticks in the slot, attacking quickly. It is a core game that I like to play the day before a regulation game because it reviews so many good habits.

Key Points:Attack quickly and the defender tie up the stick on the rebound then look for the puck.

Description:Full ice game with the defenders getting support. New attackers have to get the breakout pass inside their zone.This works on quick passes and attack or the backchecker catches up. The backchecker must tie up sticks on the rebound and don't allow a second shot. The attacker must be quick and follow the shot.Defender make a breakout pass to the supporting player in the high slot.

Key Points:Forward gets support from a defenseman and the D gets support from a forward.

Description:1. Forwards line up in the neutral zone on one side and D on the other on their offensive side of the red line.2. Start with a 1-1 and the supporting players join the play when the puck enters the zone and play 2-2.3. This is a game and not a drill, so no whistles. Original players leave when the puck is carried over the blue line and there is a 1-1 the other way with the players who supported.4. If the puck is dumped out the players stay on and regroup.5. Situations up to a 3-2 each way can be practiced with this flow. 6. Keep Score.

DT Half ice 1-2 Game With Two Goals to Teach Transition from Defense to Offense in DZ

Key Points:- O1 to dump the puck or to control the puck- D1 and D2 to hold the blue line, to win the puck quickly and to breakout between the face-off dots

Description:1. D1 starts the drill by shooting the net or dumping puck behind net2. D2 start at the same time when D1, goalie passes to D1 or D2 or stops the puck3. O1 read the breakout and times himself for a breakout pass4. D1 or D2 makes a breakout pass to O1, and then both pivot at blue line to play 1-2 with O15. D1 and D2 try to win the puck and skate or pass with the puck through the NZ face-off dots (a goal)

- after save goalie passes to D1 Or D2, after goal D3 and D4 start a new drill- O1 can be given the option to dump the puck or not, if dumping then O1 should start forechecking and protect the middle of the ice- coach can put two cones to NZ face-off dots as a goal for D1 and D2

Key Points:- O1 and O2 to score (shoot, drive to the net, rebound) and to start fore/backcheck- D1 to prevent goal (defend the middle of the ice, prevent pass, play stick in front of the goal), win the puck and to breakout to O3 and O4

Description:1. O1 and O2 starts the drill by receiving a pass from goalie2. O1 and O2 quickly through NZ and play 2-1 against D1 below the ringette line3. after puck crosses the blue line O3 and O4 can support D1 above the ringette line4. D1 tries to win the puck and to pass to O3 or O4, or if puck comes over the ringette line O3 and O4 can start new 2-1 against D2.

- after save goalie passes to D1 and O1 and O2 can forecheck, after goal goalie passes to D1 who passes to O3 and O4- O1 and O2 can fore/backcheck only to OZ blue line- coach can stop the 2-1 after 20s and then D1 breakouts to O3 and O4.

Variation to full ice 3-2 transition game - Two additional diagrams on the PDF.